tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826033856235063878.post1443272464829853882..comments2024-03-27T21:47:21.816-07:00Comments on Flipping with Kirch: Student responsibility and motivation rantCrystal Kirchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701759790348069890noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826033856235063878.post-66478035114237368752012-05-21T21:43:20.528-07:002012-05-21T21:43:20.528-07:00Thank you everyone for your comments - just knowin...Thank you everyone for your comments - just knowing that I am not alone in my struggles is HUGE. <br />MathManTP, you make some great points. It is so much easier to focus on the failures rather than the successes that we have every day. I was reminded of that today when 2 of my senior students, who have struggled throughout the year (one still currently has an F), came up and asked if they could take a picture with me because they are putting me in their senior exit project as "most influential adult" in their lives. It's little things like that that we need to remember - we may not see it, but we are making a difference.<br /><br />I may copy some quotes from your comments to put on a card and keep in my desk next year... especially the one about planting the seeds - very important to remember.<br /><br />Thanks again to everyone for joining in on the conversation!Crystal Kirchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12701759790348069890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826033856235063878.post-20647920711961224942012-05-21T20:28:59.256-07:002012-05-21T20:28:59.256-07:00Just like Carla up there, I had a great comment......Just like Carla up there, I had a great comment... but I lost it cause I deleted it. It was the same circular argument as you have here. <br />And I work in a school where most of the kids are motivated... and families give pretty strong support! <br />You know, we push and hope, and often get sucked in to focus on our failures rather than our successes. Even though they may not succeed in the insignificant specifics of the subject we teach (yes, teachers suffer greatly from tunnel vision), sometimes our real purpose as educators is to let them know that we believe in them. That's more important than knowing how to factor.<br />You talk about "engaged students" as being the norm, and chances are discipline issues are not so much a problem. Those are victories. Think about it... kids confidently talking math to each other... MATH? It is so cool to see that. Teaching is about planting the seeds, and providing the environment to help them grow... we don't know what the seed is going to grow into. It's not like cooking with preset ingredients and procedures that will turn out the way it's expected.<br />So no solution here, just some heavy-duty rationalizing. <br />But if I may be so idealistic - our job is teaching kids, not teaching math.<br />Cheers!MathManTPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11750380337360528440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826033856235063878.post-61785441245183866002012-05-21T06:20:19.468-07:002012-05-21T06:20:19.468-07:00Hi there,
I have a similar situation, where some ...Hi there,<br /><br />I have a similar situation, where some of my students did not pay attention in French 1, 2 & 3 and now have a really hard time with French 4. What I have done is paired them with students who I know understand those concepts for a conference. They then have to come explain the material they have reviewed to me and go back and try the assignment again. When they can do that, they can move on to the next assignment. Now they automatically ask each other. I'm thinking of making review videos for next year.Madame Brookshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03963049230179728937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826033856235063878.post-54000763596951481552012-05-20T06:55:48.734-07:002012-05-20T06:55:48.734-07:00I just lost a great comment because I clicked some...I just lost a great comment because I clicked something in my browser wrong. Ugh.<br /><br />Anyway, you are not alone in your conclusions - especially conclusion #2. I want my students to persevere! I want them to have the self-control to follow through on their necessary activities to learn what they need to learn. The Algebra 1 class I had this year was 9 students - one perseveres and gets it, one perserveres but gets distracted, the other 7 have gaps in their math learning - distributive property, cross multiplication, GCF, solving for a variable, positive/negative numbers, etc - that thwart their ability to be as successful as they can. I am there after school every day for an hour - one kid may come in for 30 minutes but other than that that kid may never look at their assigned work again and it comes back undone. Even in class this last quarter I have had one kid in particular that didn't even finish the in class work where I was there to redirect and reexplain. I know I have to do something different next year and flipping my class may be it but obviously I have to strongly consider student responsibility and motivation because those that dont' do work now will likely be ones that don't do work later.Carla Belyeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14516022677038477814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826033856235063878.post-24314215749390018302012-05-19T09:07:28.724-07:002012-05-19T09:07:28.724-07:00Wow. Thank you for your comment and encouragement ...Wow. Thank you for your comment and encouragement - definitely something I needed to hear!<br />It is also encouraging to hear that it is not just me dealing with this, and that hopefully together we can work to find solutions, or at least support one another through the struggles.<br /><br />Thanks for reading :)Crystal Kirchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12701759790348069890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3826033856235063878.post-78761393476895769262012-05-19T06:23:26.687-07:002012-05-19T06:23:26.687-07:00I am a 6th grade math teacher in Massachusetts. Ev...I am a 6th grade math teacher in Massachusetts. Everything you describe is also my experience in a different grade and different state. Sadly, after 14 years of teaching math, I am learning to accept that I can only do my best (which is what you are doing). No matter how we structure the classroom (flipped or not), no matter how much intervention and reteaching we provide, no matter how many hours and extra support we offer, the unmotivated failing student exists. It is also my experience that this type of behavior increases each year. What I can't understand is the parent's response and/or lack of response to their child failing. Perhaps this explains the failing student's inability to change their learning behavior. In my classroom parents sign all tests, sign midterms that say their child is in danger of failing, they can access the online homework grades and online gradebook for continuous information on their child's progress. Yet, I met with parents this week that were surprised that their children are failing and have been failing all year. A typical parent response is they ask me why their child is failing. I want to say (but don't), "I am doing my job, are you doing yours?" I don't always think it is the parent's fault but I do see many parents that don't know how or don't have the time and energy to teach their children the importance of education. I fear this is a cultural change in America. Perhaps because of our busy technological daily living, perhaps the stress on today's families, but in any event we have a large number of students not learning what they need to be successful in their future. Each year more is expected of the educator and less of the parent. The question at hand is how do we, the educators, bring about change in these students and families. I do believe by middle school, it is difficult to change the learning behavior of students (as you explain so well). I wonder if we could identify these students at elementary what early interventions could change the failing path these students have begun before it is too late. The intervention plan would have to include both school and family. I am not saying there is no hope at middle or high school to make a change in a student. But the evidence shows with each year, changing this failing behavior is more difficult. <br /><br />Ending with a positive thought.....All the above efforts you describe that are best practices of a great teacher, do make a difference in the lives of your students, even the failing ones. Believe that even the failing ones have learned a great deal from you and are better people for having spent a year with you. You do make a difference in all their lives whether or not it shows in the data.bdelaneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04889862734123211152noreply@blogger.com